Coldest winter in SE London and north Kent recalled

A FEW weeks ago I was giving a talk in Orpington and asked my audience to name the coldest winter of the 20th century.

Immediately a lady called out 1947 and suddenly there was a buzz of excitement as the audience recalled the fun — and hardships — they had suffered during sub-zero temperatures and snow which piled into drifts of almost 15 feet.

But the coldest winter of the 20th century was actually in 1963.

It started on Boxing Day 1962 and lasted through to early March, with record low temperatures at night, regular snowfalls and thick ice on the Thames which, upstream, stretched from bank to bank.

By early January the scene was chaotic, as another blizzard had released tons of snow and, driven by a severe gale, huge drifts had formed in fields and country lanes.

North and west Kent was virtually at a standstill and people in Orpington, Bromley, Beckenham and other metropolitan towns were in a strange, muffled world.

Comments (1)

I remember it well - I was at primary school (in those days schools didn't close & we walked instead of getting in mum's 4x4)

We built a great big snowman in the playground (yes, we were allowed out to play in the snow) - it hadn't completely melted by Easter

I remember it well - I was at primary school (in those days schools didn't close & we walked instead of getting in mum's 4x4)
We built a great big snowman in the playground (yes, we were allowed out to play in the snow) - it hadn't completely melted by EasterOldchap